Please help me decide what to do....

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
What if I use only the priority fixed rate packaging? Then use a weight based system to determine which package. I have been over looking at paypal and it says that I can do postage by weight so this should work, correct?

Rule #1 at PayPal- they are owned and run by ebay- NEVER trust what they say about shipping costs! Notorious for being wrong.

I have something I have to do right now, but in a bit I'll come back and post about shipping costs- it easy once you get the hang of it.

BRB-

If I use the flat rate box then the costs would be simple, right?

 

[Jena]

Farmer Kity,

Ranchhand will give you the best advice.


I know you sell 2 things don;t you, your bags and also the stands, so postage should be simple.

I don;t know the rates over there, and so Ranchhand will be the best to help you. But you shoudl really have only a few rates. One for bags and ones for the trivets.

Maybe one for a mix of both items or multiples.

But most postal services will havea chart that will give you the rates.

Jena.

 

[Jena]

Farmer Kitty,

Just one more thing for you.

I talked about an online store and one that is free and is perfect for you is Artfire.

It is free. I know some other use it, so ask around.

Very easy to register and use.

www.artfire.com

Hope it works out well.

Jena.

 

[ranchhand]

Brrr... had to go feed and replace ice with water.

If you go to www.usps.com, you can register at their site. If you register, you can get shipping boxes for FREE. Yup, absolutely free, and there is a huge assortment to choose from. The best part is that they deliver them to your doorstep, once again, for FREE! I usually get an assortment of Priority boxes. If you need non-Priority boxes, just turn a box inside out and retape it-

I bought a scale from American Weigh, www.americanweigh.com Email them and ask if they will sell you a used scale- I got a 35 lb. limit, digital scale for $12.50. Half price. It looked and works like new.

When I list an item, I do all the photos and measurements, then wrap it for shipping, pack it and weigh. I label the box with a sticky so I know what's in it. Then I go to usps.com and get the postage- you have to enter a zip for where it's going but since I don't know at that time, I pick a zip as far away as possible and use that. For instance, I am on the east coast so I use 90001, which is the west coast.
Customer pays shipping when they checkout via PayPal. If I have overestimated by more than a dollar, I put it in the package, makes them happy! I print the shipping label on plain paper, via PayPal, and tape it to the box. You can even print a packing slip there. If it's Priority, you can request a pickup by the carrier, from the website.
The main thing is to read it all carefully, it can be confusing at times.

I don't ship internationally, don't want the hassle with Customs. If you want to give it a shot, anybody, pm me and I'll walk you through it by phone. I LOVE helping folks get set up to sell online!

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Rule #1 at PayPal- they are owned and run by ebay- NEVER trust what they say about shipping costs! Notorious for being wrong.

I have something I have to do right now, but in a bit I'll come back and post about shipping costs- it easy once you get the hang of it.

BRB-

If I use the flat rate box then the costs would be simple, right?

Not necessarily. If an item is small but heavy, then flat rate might be best- usually it's higher. USPS will give you your options after you enter weight, zip codes. I use mostly First Class and Parcel Post, because people don't want to pay Priority right now. A year ago, it was all Priority, now? Pretty rare.

I only use UPS if a customer asks- they are always higher.

 

[klf73]

I didn't read the whole thread (sorry) but the first post screams scam.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I could hear it clear down here!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

ranchhand, first thankyou. The trivits are heavy so priority is best for them-I already checked them out. I had a neighbor buy a tote and send it to a friend. It cost her just under $3 to send it only a couple states away. So even the lowest priority cost of $4.80 isn't much more and I don't have to buy the package, especially if going across country. And if they buy more than one it would most definately be the better way-a $4.80 box and they are set.

Do you recommend Paypal or should I look at the artfire?

 

[ranchhand]

PayPal is the most widely used form of payment and accepted everywhere. However- PayPal charges you, too, so keep that in mind when setting price. I sell vintage items, so artfire doesn't work for me, but after a quick glance, it looks pretty good for your handmade items, as Jena said. I would imagine you could list on artfire, and use PayPal as you payment choice.

 

[Cetawin]

No reputable buyer is going to forget the spellcheck and grammar check for starters.

Secondly, to ask YOU if you can be trusted with the money blah blah...says SCAM

I would email this fool back and state clearly...

The item(s) IS NOT sold to you and is still available for purchase by someone else. The arrangements you have offered are unsatisfactory and unacceptable to me. So, unless you wish to purchase the items by means of my terms, please do not contact me again.

Good luck with getting rid of this one.